Venezuelans pour into Caracas streets in anti-Maduro protest

Saturday's protests continued a week of unrest sparked by last week's Supreme Court decision in which it assumed the role of the opposition-led congress.

Maduro said in a televised address on Thursday that authorities had detained 30 people involved in the demonstration as the country's fragmented opposition gained new impetus against a government it blames for the country's social and economic meltdown.

Police in Caracas fired tear gas and rubber bullets at some of the protesters amid a weeklong protest movement that shows little sign of losing steam.

AFP reporters also witnessed a National Guard soldier lying unconscious after having been struck by a large rock. Around 4,000 people attended the demonstration. "But today they can see that what is happening here is a humanitarian crisis", he said.

At the height of Saturday's crackdown by police, Mr Smolansky took to Twitter to accuse Mr Maduro of "beginning to use chemical weapons as is occurring in Syria".

The recent opposition violence has resembled the infamous right-wing Guarimbas protests which blockaded streets in Febuary 2014 in an attempt to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro.

He retains the public support of the military - a pillar that analysts say could make him topple if removed.

Later that day, the president of a leading Venezuelan opposition party took refuge at the residence of the Chilean ambassador in Caracas and asked for protection. Capriles responded to the measure in a defiant speech to emotive supporters at a small Caracas sports arena, describing the measure as a desperate gambit of a decaying dictatorship.

The decision was later reversed amid widespread worldwide condemnation.

On Wednesday lawmakers, some still injured from the previous day's protest, began a symbolic process of removing Supreme Court justices. But that would require a green light from the attorney general, prosecutor general and comptroller, all Maduro allies.

Last week's court ruling led to an outcry from the worldwide community over what some countries said was a turn toward dictatorship.

Ortiz was a 19-year-old student at a local university, the local mayor's office said.

A group of protesters eventually managed to march up to the metal police barricade, their hands in the air, and spray paint "Freedom" on it in blue letters.

The opposition says it faces growing persecution.

Protesters were assembling at seven designated points in capital city Caracas to march to a major highway. He is the first person to be killed in this round of protests.

Earlier this week, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto received leading Venezuelan opposition activist Lilian Tintori, the wife of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, in a policy shift that reflects Mexico's increasing assertiveness against the government of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro.

Maduro has ruled out moving up the next presidential election, now scheduled for late 2018.

Regional governorship polls were postponed indefinitely in December and municipal ones are due later this year amid a chaotic political struggle.

The collapse in energy prices has sapped the country's revenues, prompting shortages of food, medicine and basic goods along with a surge in violent crime.

The center-right opposition has demanded a referendum on removing Maduro from power, but he has resisted and negotiations have broken down. He says it is due to a capitalist conspiracy backed by the United States.

Related Articles

This year's 139th Easter Egg Roll is Trump's first Easter celebration after being hailed as the President of the United States. Trump used the occasion to thank USA servicemen and women, many of whom were in attendance with their children.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing the beer truck speeding along Drottninggatan before it crashed into the front of a department store. Pictures taken at the scene showed a large blue beer truck with a mangled undercarriage smashed into the Ahlens department store.

Strowman was matched up with The Big Show in the main event when they brought the house and everything in it down. I just remember when it happened because ... you don't know how the stunt is going to look.

Stephen Tulloch , who led the Tennessee Titans in tackles twice, will retire this week after an 11-year career with three teams. While Tulloch was known as a tackling machine on the field, he may be more remembered for his actions off the gridiron.

Trump's first three months in office have seen tensions rise both with allies and with Russian Federation and North Korea . The North's news agency KCNA on Monday published Kim Jong-un's letter to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

It lost at Malaga 2-0 before the defeat to Juventus in Turin, and had to claw its way past Real Sociedad 3-2 at the weekend. The Argentina worldwide limped off early in the second half of Juve's 2-0 win at Pescara with an ankle injury.

Disney's " Beauty And The Beast " crossed the $1 billion mark in worldwide sales in this, its fifth week of domestic exhibition. The studio has not released an official production budget, but it is reported to be in the pricey $250 million range.

In addition to government interaction, officials from the ruling parties of China and North Korea have regularly met in the past. The US hopes China - North Korea's largest trading partner - can apply pressure to Pyongyang to curtail its nuclear ambitions.

Police officers stand guard outside North Park School after a deadly shooting Monday, April 10, 2017, in San Bernardino, Calif . Killed was Jonathan Martinez, 8 , who had a rare genetic condition known as Williams syndrome and had survived heart surgery.

But her statement in Parliament, reported by Jiji Press and public broadcaster NHK, is likely to be controversial in South Korea. Of course, Clinton was just as wrong about that as Obama was when he claimed he made Syria get rid of its chemical weapons.

That said, we would expect a more immediate negative market reaction should Le Pen prove victorious in the second-round of voting. The best way to improve the situation of European workers is for France to discuss with Germany and reform the EU, he said.

Latest news

British PM May calls for early election on June 8
The European Commission has said it wants the exit talks to be concluded by October 2018 at the latest. She added that her decision wasn't "about political games" but "about what is right for the country".

Michigan State to Host 2019 and 2020 NCAA Golf Regionals
The NCAA's Division I Cross Country Championships will be returning to LaVern Gibson Course. but not as frequently as it once did. Roanoke College's Kerr Stadium was awarded the Division III women's lacrosse championship for May 2021 and May 2022.

Zimmermann sharp as Tigers beat Red Sox 4-1
Half an hour later, the Sox had lost, 2-1, and Sale said he hadn't checked the video to see whether it was a good pitch. Verlander escaped the inning with minimal damage, though, inducing a groundball double play and lineout to third base.

China, US working on 'North Korea problem'
He said t he United States is focussed on stopping the North's weapons development and making the Korean Peninsula nuclear-free. Abe said that "we need to apply pressure on North Korea so they seriously respond to a dialogue" with the worldwide community.

Trump's senior adviser Kushner meets Iraqi PM
The official did not release additional details about the trip that Kushner is taking with Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Thomas Bossert, assistant to the president for homeland security and counter-terrorism, is also traveling with them.

Liquor baron pokes fun at 'Indian media hype'
He has been declared a wilful defaulter back home and India's request for his extradition was recently certified by the UK. Liquor baron Vijay Mallya who was arrested earlier today by Scotland Yard in London , procured bail three hours later.